A tractor-trailer drove into the back of two cars which caused a collision involving four other vehicles on an Interstate highway near Philadelphia. The driver, 55 year old Valerijs Belovs, wanted to have his bail lowered from $50,000, but the motion was denied.
Belovs was charged with vehicular homicide when the driver of a car he ran into was killed. His bail was originally set at $350,000. The truck he was driving reportedly had been having severe braking problems.
Along with Belovs, the owner of the truck, Victor Kalinitchii, and a 61 year old garage owner, Joseph Jadczak Jr., were also convicted of vehicular homicide. Jadczak owns Pratt Auto Service in Philadelphia and reportedly inspected the truck and passed it.
Investigators inspected the truck after the accident and reported that all 10 brakes on the big rig were badly worn. The cab was also examined and the left front brakes were found to be “worn and dangerously thin.” Many other brakes were overheated, scorched and of the wrong size. Also, leaking fluid was found in the brake linings in a rear axle and another brake lining had been heated up so much that the lining had adhered to the brake shoe.
Belovs admitted that he did not keep a log book that the law requires. He claimed that he called Kalinitchii several times and told him about the bad brakes, but he was told to keep driving.
The truck had been stopped by police in Maryland, Iowa, Arizona, and California and was taken out of service for a while. But somehow the rig made it back on the roads without having the proper repairs.
If you’ve lost a loved one as the result of truck driver negligence, talk to an experienced truck wreck attorney for professional insight.
Tags: big rig, ngeligence, truck wreck attorney